“Where do they all come from?” I wonder as I observe our congregation’s parking lot. People in varied styles of dress from all walks and stages in life come to worship at the Lord’s place of worship. No one forces them to come. God’s grace has sought them out. There they are, invited and compelled by love from God through Christ. I imagine each soul wishing to be forgiven, nourished, and refreshed for life. I believe they have hearts wanting to be engaged and challenged to greater things. Here they come to con-nect with their Savior and with their brothers and sisters in Christ. Probably each has personal expectations for worship, but they come anticipating that God will communicate with them.

We move toward worship

I watch them walk from the parking lot. I hope someone will be at the door to greet them. The welcome area is a place for gracious greetings, where the hospitality of Christianity at its finest is often on display. That entry space is a connecting place for friends, guests, and strangers. In that place we need to look around, see who is left alone, and connect with those in need of concern or encouragement. I look for guests who require help in finding where to go for worship, Bible study, or Sunday school. The buzz before weekly worship is about many things. Young people smile at seeing their friends. Christian fellowship is alive and well from the parking lot into the welcome area.

The time comes to enter the place of sacred worship. Some sit in prayer and contemplation. Others listen to the preservice music. Still others read a psalm or another Scripture verse. A few think of a loved one who recently died. A mother and father pace with excitement as they await their child’s baptism. A few read the service folder and check on the time for meetings or activities. Perhaps there’s a note explaining the reason for the flowers—in memory of someone or as a celebration of some event. As worship time comes closer, mothers try to hush their children.

Then the pastor greets and welcomes those who have come. People transfer thoughts from their busy week to this focused time for God. They implore the Spirit’s presence and sing of the wonderful works of God. We all come before God as beggars at the throne of grace, confessing known and unknown sins, pleading for mercy. We find reason to rejoice when we hear the pastor’s proclamation of God’s forgiveness in Christ and respond with an assenting amen, the Gloria, or another hymn of praise. How uplifting to receive God’s forgiveness together in worship!

God touches us in worship, and we speak to him